After a couple of months of rumors indicating he might go back to Europe, Eurohockey.net is reporting that Lightning prospect Marek Kvapil has signed with Vitkovice of the Czech Extraliga for next season. Kvapil, 23, struggled the past two seasons to reach the promise he showed as a rookie in 2005-2006 when he scored 18 goals and 45 points in 79 games with the Springfield Falcons. Plagued by inconsistent effort and turnovers in the neutral zone, Kvapil languished in the ECHL for half of last season with the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Kvapil's decision is the first of a string of prospect roster moves to come in the next couple of months. Bolt Prospects' Chad Schnarr will have more on Johan Harju, Mitch Fadden, and Dane Crowley in the coming week.

The Texas Wildcatters defeated the Mississippi Sea Wolves Sunday night by a score of 5-3, ending the Wolves' bid to continue post-season play. Marek Kvapil scored a power play marker in the first period and assisted on Michael Couch's second period goal. The Wolves would knot the game at 3-3 early in the third period before Ryan Munce would give up two Wildcatter goals down the stretch. Munce stopped 34 shots, but surrended 5 goals to the top-seed Texas. Kvapil finished the playoffs 2-3-5 in 3gp including 2 power-play goals.

Ryan Munce bounced back in front of a home crowd of 2,172 Saturday night stopping 35 shots as the Mississippi Sea Wolves pulled off a sudden death OT winner in Game 3 against top-seed Texas. Marek Kvapil scored a 2nd period power play marker to put the Wolves up 3-2, and then assisted on Mike Hartwick's OT stunner forcing Game 4 tonight at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

The Wildcatters lead the series 2-1, but can still end the Wolves' season with a Game 4 victory tonight in Biloxi, MS.

Ryan Munce allowed a very pedestrian 5 goals on 33 shots and the Sea Wolves dropped Game 2 of their playoff series against Texas by a score of 5-2 Thursday night. Marek Kvapil returned to the Wolves lineup, assisting on Mississippi's first goal, a third-period power play marker. The Sea Wolves return home to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum needing to win both Saturday and Sunday to force a final Game 5 back in Texas on Tuesday.

The Wildcatters now lead the series 2-0 with Game 3 of the series Saturday night in Biloxi, MS.

The website is also reporting that Lightning prospect Stanislav Lascek, who has spent much of this season with Mississippi of the ECHL, has agreed to play next season for Zvolen in Slovakia. Lascek, who was drafted as an overage player in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, finished second in the QMJHL in scoring in his final year of junior hockey but has been underwhelming in two seasons of professional hockey that have been spent largely in the ECHL.

Milley's departure leaves an opening for a veteran forward to be retained or signed for Norfolk of the AHL next season. Milley leaves the Lightning organization after three seasons which have included 182 games split between Springfield and Norfolk of the AHL and 14 games of NHL service with Tampa Bay during the 2005-2006 season. Milley has scored 63 goals and 154 points in his 182 games of AHL service with the franchise. He will be missed.

It is not completely clear what Lascek's status will be given that he still has a year left on his NHL Entry Level deal. Whether or not the Lightning retain Lascek's rights, it does appear his departure may give the Lightning some relief on the 50-man roster front where potentially difficult signing decisions need to be made for currently contracted prospects Mike Egener and Marek Kvapil and minor league contracted players Adam Henrich and Rob Klinkhammer.

The Norfolk Admirals are reporting that Admirals winger Junior Lessard has been recalled to the Tampa Bay Lightning as GM Jay Feaster indicated would happen during several interviews on Wednesday. Technically, Lessard was recalled on an emergency basis as Lightning center Chris Gratton will be undergoing hip surgery next week, according to tampabaylightning.com.

Ryan Munce stopped 26 shots as the Sea Wolves defeated the Columbia Inferno 4-2 Saturday night. Munce was named the game's Third Star capping his 13th win on the season. The Sea Wolves, down 1-0 after the 1st, score three 2nd period goals. Mississippi's top line of Marek Kvapil, Ryan Menai, and Jason Tejchma continues to produce as they started the scoring 3:26 into the 2nd frame.